"Peter Carey is a perfect example of that kind of inane literacy snobbery,” Bryce Courtenay tells Crikey, in defence of popular culture and “show-offs” like the Booker Prize winner he says have hijacked the cultural debate.

Author Peter Carey dishes out advice for wannabe scribes, comparing the training and dedication needed in writing to that of a professional sportsperson. Plus, stop watching TV. Or looking at the internet. Uh oh.